Tamiya 1/32 P-51D/K Mustang

By Malcolm Reid

2 Squadron (“The Flying Cheetahs”) flew the F-51K Mustang during the Korean War as part of the United Nations Forces. 2 Squadron was essentially an extension of the USAF 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing. The initial contingent of 2 Squadron personnel mobilized to Korea aboard a ship in September 1950, via Yokohama in Japan. They arrived in Korea on 15 November 1950 and were initially directed to Pusan East airfield (K9) but found a more permanent home for the duration of the war at Chinae Air Base (K-10) in December 1950. The SAAF operated the Mustangs up to December 1952, after which they were replaced by Sabre F-86F-40, again loaned from the USAF. 2 Squadron currently operates the SAAB Gripen C and D from Air Force Base Makhado in the north-east of South Africa.

The SAAF had obtained 95 Mustangs from the USAF. 74 of these were lost or written off in Korea. 34 SAAF Mustang pilots were listed as “missing” or “KIA”. Approximately 2,890 missions (assumed to mean combat) and 10,597 operational sorties were flown. Eight pilots became prisoners of war, one of which was then 2nd Lieutenant Dennis Earp, who later became the Chief of the SAAF.

SAAF F-51s were assigned a 3-digit tail code starting with “3”. Some aircraft received names, whilst others remained anonymous.

Here are several of the named F-51s operated by the SAAF:

“Okey Geffin”, #308
“Shy Talk”, #318
“Patsy Dawn”, #325
“Papasan” and “Theresa”, #326
“Gay Jane II”, #334
“Hazel”, #343
“Lillian Sandra”, #348
“Rosalie”, #360
“Miss Marunouchi”, #361
“Sexy”, #366
“Thorium”, #367
“My Boy” #369
“Maureen’s Joy” #377
“Spade II”, #378
“Jean”, #379
“Connie”, #381
“Sonop”, #382
“Mammy”, #383
“Clink-Clinks”, #384
“Bonnie Pam”, #385
“Joy”, #387
“Amondie”, #388
“Joyce”, #389
“Monkey II”, #390
“Marie”, #393
“Sherdanor”, #395

My pick was “Jean”, #379

The SAAF F-51s carried the blue and white roundel with an orange Springbok emblem on the fuselage and upper and lower wings. The 2 Squadron “Flying Cheetah” badge was carried on the forward fuselage (both sides) just beneath the windshield. They were seen variably with either black or dark olive drab anti-glare panels. Most SAAF F-51s carried a red propeller spinner, however, some were blue or yellow with one particular aircraft (#335) given a multicolored spinner (black, yellow, blue, red from back to front).

SAAF F-51s were used in the ground attack role and were usually armed with the standard six 0.50 guns, plus two napalm tanks (converted from old 75 gallon drop tanks) and six 5-inch HVAR rockets. Alternatively, the napalm tanks were sometimes replaced with a pair of 500lb bomb. Most of the SAAF F-51s were equipped with the later Aeroproducts propeller blade. However, some were fitted with the original D-model Hamilton Standard “cuffed” propeller blade including my subject, “Jean”, #379.

The base kit used is the sublime Tamiya P-51D/K Mustang Pacific Theatre boxing. If you want to build the perfect kit, this is it!

One must be careful which parts to use e.g. gun sight etc. as there are many options provided in the kit. I didn't use the option to adjust the landing gear (via screws hidden behind panels with magnets) as I find this a bit gimmicky. However, the engine cowling panels are all loose fitted in place. They're so thin that they click into place and are held there by small magnets and metal plates. Very clever....

The standard cockpit was used and seat belts are straight out the box.

Kit detail was nice inside the opened MG and ammo hatches - I only added the gun firing wires.

The HVAR rockets were 3D printed.

Paints used included:

Interior green - Mission Model MMP-059 US interior green.
Exterior - overall finish - Tamiya AS-12 bare metal silver over sprayed with TS-83 metallic silver. Paint was decanted from the aerosol can and airbrushed.
Various panels were masked off and treated to varying mixes of Tamiya LP-11 silver and X-1 Black.
Using a mottling template, I oversprayed with a darker mix of LP-11/X-1 to create that patchy effect.

The markings were mostly masked and airbrushed on (thanks to my questionable cad skills and my go-to mask maker, HP Industries!). A few of the kit data stencils were used but these had to be treated with Tamiya Super Strong decal softener. I have found that Tamiya decals are impervious to any other decal setting solution. Then 2 Squadron "Flying Cheetah" badges were provided by a local SA decal manufacturer, MavDecals.

A final wash of MiG Starship Wash followed by application of some random pastels (exhaust and gun stains) followed by a coat of Tamiya X-22 gloss varnish to seal it all in.

From a period pic of #379 "Jean" - it appears that my exhaust weathering wasn't quite up to operational spec...it is dirtier than I modeled it! The pic clearly shows the Hamilton Standard "cuffed" propeller blades.

I must say, the Mustang is an elegant aircraft. This is a really pleasing addition to my growing collection of 32nd scale SAAF subjects.

Tamiya 1/32 P-51D/K Mustang

By Malcolm Reid

Related Content